This week, the Pehr Black Super Team wants to salute the IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene Team! The hardest working team in real estate appreciates the dedication and hard work it takes to get to the next level! Going on for several years now, the IRONMAN competition is a tribute to human beings ability to overcome opposition and allow our spirit to shine through adversity!

This weekend in Coeur d’Alene the weather has been great. It is a bit overcast (making the swimming a “bit” chilly) but it will be great for the marathon and cycling portions of the competition! The cyclist have some of the most amazing rides I have ever seen. Brands I didn’t even know existed like Felt and Paketa, line the streets looking like new age spaceships. Their helmets are oblong and help with the space ship image! Most of the swimmers have amazing colored suits as well. New technology in swimming has allowed for more heat storage, water “skimming” and lighter weight fabric then ever before. The amount of technology that goes into extending the human bodies endurance is astounding!

There is tons of excitement in there air while we celebrate the dreams of so many people. There is no set age group: people of all ages take part in the ceremonies and race! There is defiantly a separation between “pro” and “amateur” competitors, but everyone is here for fun!

Just like the IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene competitors, the Pehr Black Super Team is at it this morning! Pehr finished the morning “cold call swim,” followed up by laurel’s “marathon appointments” this afternoon. Just like the IRONMAN competitors, it takes tireless hours of hard work to be the best!

Good luck to everyone out there today! If you want to work with the IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene Real Estate Team, give us a call! We work every day of the week, and will never quit on you!

This time of year is perfect for buying real estate.

In Coeur d’Alene, now is when all our renters start shifting into new “better” apartments. You will see it all across town. The U-haul locations are empty, and more then a few old couches have hit the dumpster. At the Pehr Black Super Team it has us wondering why more people don’t buy houses.

In most cases, you can get a house for less then you pay for rent! No gimmicks, cheap tricks, or bait-and-switch. How is that possible? We will explain:

Government Programs. The government offers several backed programs for first time home buyers, and people with smaller incomes. Depending on your tax status, number of kids, and income, you can easily qualify for one of these special loan programs! First time home buyers have an especially good chance of getting approved! Government loans typically have a lower interest rate, and often require a minimal down payment. After prequalifying you can even have sub-par credit and still qualify for a loan! Interested? Email us for more info!

Holding out house keys on a house shaped keychain

Real Estate market trends. Right now, our local Coeur d’Alene real estate market is exploding. While that increases home prices in most areas, it also decreases the prices on some great houses. This cycle, many homeowners are upgrading to larger, more expensive houses, leaving their great starter homes on the market. Now is the perfect time to get into your first home for an incredible deal! These homes sit around 189-219k and are a great opportunity for a long-time renter!

Loan Opportunities. When a real estate market is hot, investors (the people who originate home loans) start scrambling to find new buyers. What that means for you is lower interest rates, and less stringent standards. We talk with lots of people who are nervous about a low credit score. In today’s market, you will be shocked by what lenders are accepting for potential buyers! The market is out there for you!

These are just a few of the reasons to consider buying real estate. Long term renters tend to let the home ownership dream fall by the wayside. The Pehr Black Super Team is here to give you hope! If you have considered buying real estate in the past, give us a call before you sign the dotted line for another year. You may just be shocked what options are available to you! Give us a chance to make your dreams come true. Its what we do best here!

The Pehr Black Super Team is ready for summer time! In Coeur d’Alene, 9 months of the year are spent in the cold. Not quite bone chillingly alla “Alaska,” but pretty freaking cold.

HOWEVER

Summer time on the lake is amazing! For three all too brief months, Coeur d’Alene lake is warm and inviting, and the whole area wakes up in one giant summer time “Hurrah!” I think we all love summer! Barbecues, parties in the parks, boating, swimming, drinking, there are hardly any downsides. Putting up with bugs can be frustrating, and it can get a bit warm, but we can’t think of any real complaints with the sun shining down on our little northern world! Few things to keep in mind as we start the month of June!

Handshake Productions puts on several free concerts in the Coeur d’Alene Parks. They are amazing and a great family even you will all love! Check their website for more details.

GO BOATING! Why live next to an amazing lake and never go boating? Everyone has at least a friend or 2 with a boat. Go tubing, water skiing, or heck, even floating. In a few weeks it will be warm and inviting! Trust us, we’ve lived here a while!

Try out the food trucks at the farmer’s markets. On Thursdays downtown during the summer time, the City of Coeur d’Alene has a great farmer’s market! When we were there yesterday, at least 20 food trucks were serving people downtown! Food trucks (in case you have never eaten at one) typically serve 1-3 food items that are tasty, homemade, and unique. We highly recommend stopping down there and finding some great food, friends, and fresh vegetables!

Outdoor eating. A surprising number of local restaurants offer outdoor seating during summer hours, breweries especially. Something magical happens to a good beer when you drink it outside from a frozen pint. Give one or our local breweries a shot!

The Pehr Black Super Team (us) could go on for hours! But all the discussing of outdoor activities has us excited. Next week, we will touch on real estate selling in summer. Now? Some ice cold beer is calling to us…

About ten years ago, Boise was ranked one of the nations hottest growing technology centers. Tech gurus flocked to the area because real estate was incredibly affordable, and Boise had the space to grow into a tech Mecca! In terms of state demographics, Boise started booming in population and all was well in the world. But there is a fundamental problem with Boise (if you have ever been there): the weather is hot, the landscape is flat, and theres no natural beauty. The “new way to work” movement has created highly talented young people that naturally flock to tech companies, and they also require “perks.” One of these perks is a beautiful place to live! Coeur d’Alene has long been a unique vacation stop for the United States. We get thousands upon thousands of summer visitors every year! For a long time we (the residents) have been able to keep our great city a secret, but its starting to get out! Coeur d’Alene offers to many opportunities for young tech workers to ignore, and we are starting to see a transition in the real estate market.

Coeur d’Alene Area

Every year, there are millions of studies done on virtually every subject you can imagine. In real estate, the Pehr Black Super Team keeps our ear to the ground! This technology movement is going to rapidly start to increase in the next few years as more and more millennials move in to the area! Kootenai county is very spread out, but with a brief read of the CDA Press its easy to follow the growth trends in real estate. What does it mean for us? More completive market space, less home inventory, and better return on your housing investment.

Keeping focused on our Real estate trends is part of what we do differently. We are deeply concerned with getting our sellers and buyers the best deals possible. If you are looking to buy or sell now is the time! Our area is about to grow faster then ever before, and we want to ride the tide to selling success!

This week’s super hot selling tips cover market awareness!

One of the factors my team and I pay close attention to is market awareness. Knowing upwards and downwards trends in the real estate market allows us to ensure our buyers and sellers get the best deals! When the market downtrends, it becomes more competitive for buyers and our home inventory typically declines. When the downtrend bottoms out, our inventory restrictions allow sellers to make more money and improve our housing stock. Like Wall Street, the housing market has natural up and down trends that we use to our advantage!

Another aspect of market awareness is differentiation. It’s what the Pehr Black Super Team does to distinguish ourselves from the competition! After painstakingly identifying market up and down trends, we use amplify our marketing strategy for both sides of the trend. This connects us with more motivated buyers and sellers connected to our researched trends. Market awareness does get overly complicated, and is hard to track. It comes down to the choice of individual Realtor. Most Realtors, don’t take the time to research our current market. When your home gets priced, you typically don’t have an explanation on market trends. Finding a Realtor who values market research is one of the secrets to getting more money for your home, or paying less for a new home!

The Pehr Black Super Team invests tons of time, money, and experience in identifying the best ways and times to list your home, or buy your new home. When looking for a Realtor ask questions! We are not all created equal, and you need to make sure you get your money’s worth! If you have any questions, and would like to work with “the hardest working man in real estate” feel free to contact me or my staff. We look forward to helping you on your real estate adventure!

In Coeur d’Alene, we have a ton of great spring events! Winter finally removes its cold grip from the landscape, and we can look forward to warmer weather! With the rising temperature, our fair city begins to awaken from the thaw as well! There are tons of cool events coming up shortly that are worth checking out. I will just mention my favorites, and leave further discovery to you!

The Downtown Farmer’s Market starts the second week of May. Known for it’s incredible variety of spring veggies, the market is a treasure trove of home grown (and baked, fried, and in general tastified) delicacies. A must stop for any local or vacationer, your going to love the market. It is hosted on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and Saturdays. Don’t miss it!

CDA Resort and Casino Events. There are to many great names to list, but the Coeur d’Alene Casino goes crazy this time of year! Chock full of awesome performances, check their calendar for a full list of events.

The CDA Marathon. Marathons and half-marathons have drawn increasingly larger crowds in recent years. Our local marathon has become a powerhouse of activity for individuals looking to burn a few extra calories. Spread across several of our more gorgeous neighborhoods, the CDA Marathon is a super fun event for the whole family.

Coeur d’Alene City Park Concerts. The City of Coeur d’Alene puts on free concerts all summer long and invites everyone to come! Known for exceptional (even unbelievable) quality for a park concert, these outings are a great hit with our area families. The Concerts take part almost every Sunday afternoon, and are highly recommended by anyone that has been there! Check it out!

The Coeur d’Alene Murder Mystery Series. Each year, a very dedicated group of talented individuals produce the Murder Mystery Series! Designed to be family friendly, the murders are an absolute blast! Having gone several times ourselves, we know you will love the trip, and the mystery will keep you guessing until the very end!

While Coeur d’Alene is jam packed with great spring events, these are a few of our favorites. If you’re looking for additional activities, make sure and check out the community calendar and the Chamber of Commerce. Both are great resources for our community, and won’t steer you wrong.